German court says Apple did not violate Samsung’s patents (Germany, USA, South Korea)

On 01.30.12, In Mobile, By Editor

SamsungAppleSamsung Electronics has announced that a German court has ruled in favour of Apple Inc, claiming that the USA firm had not violated Samsung’s technology patents. As per sources, Samsung had filed a lawsuit against Apple last year claiming that the iPhone maker had infringed on its technology patents.

According to reports, Samsung has responded to the ruling saying that they are disappointed that the court did not share their views regarding the infringement by Apple of this specific patent in Germany. Further, they will wait for the written grounds of the judgment, and after thorough review make a decision about a possible appeal to the Higher Regional Court Karlsruhe.

The company also said that the ruling relates to only one of several patents asserted by Samsung in the Mannheim court. A ruling on an additional Samsung patent relating to telecommunications standards is due to be handed down by the Mannheim court in the next several weeks.

Reports reveal that the German court had ruled in favour of Apple last week, in another infringement case filed by Samsung against Apple.

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AT&T lashes out at FCC over lack of spectrum (USA)

On 01.30.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AT&TAmerica-based wireless carrier AT&T is still fuming over the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to reject the merger with T-Mobile. Randall Stephenson, CEO, AT&T, has lashed out saying that the FCC has made it abundantly clear that they will not allow significant M&A to help bridge these delays in clearing up new spectrum.

He said that that the primary issue for the company continues to be spectrum, and in the absence of options operators have taken the logical step to make smaller transactions to acquire the spectrum required to meet demand. However, he added, that even the smallest and most routine spectrum deals are receiving intense scrutiny from this FCC, often times taking up to a year and sometimes longer for these to be approved.

Stephenson also said that in such a capacity-constrained environment they will manage usage-based data plans, increased pricing and manage the speeds of the highest volume users, as these are all logical and necessary steps to manage utilization.

He added that the deployment of LTE does give them a 30-40 percent lift in network efficiency, but at current growth rates that equates to only a year’s growth in traffic. Thus, LTE is important but it is not the silver bullet in terms of capacity planning, and so they need to continue with their spectrum push in order to meet customer demand.

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Televisa’s plea to acquire stake in Iusacell faces rejection (Mexico)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

IusacellTelevisaMexican multimedia conglomerate Televisa’s attempt to acquire a 50 percent stake in mobile operator Iusacell has reportedly been rejected by the Mexican regulatory authority. The deal has been under review for nine months and estimated to be worth US$ 1.6 billion.

According to reports, the decline by the regulatory authority CFC, could have negative consequences for both companies. Sources claim that this move was important for Televisa as it provided the media company an entry into the wireless market. Further, the money would provide Iusacell with the much required financial support to maintain its position in the industry as well as increase its business.

As per sources, the companies can appeal to the agency to review its decision.

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Orange to offer free Wikipedia access in Africa and the Middle East (Europe, Africa, Middle East)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

OrangeTelecommunications operator Orange has entered into an agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation to provide over 70 million Orange customers in Africa and the Middle East (AMEA) with mobile access to Wikipedia, without incurring data usage charges.

The move comes in an attempt to make knowledge more easily available to Orange mobile customers, in both remote and urban areas, throughout Africa and the Middle East. According to a company report, this new partnership will be gradually launched throughout 2012 across 20 African and Middle Eastern countries where Orange operates, with the first markets launching early in the year. The initiative is part of the Wikimedia Foundation’s mobile strategy that aims to reach the billions of people around the world who access the internet solely through mobile devices.

The report reveals that any customer with an Orange SIM and mobile internet enabled phone will be able to access the Wikipedia site either through their browser or an Orange widget. They can access the Wikipedia encyclopaedia services for as many times as they like at no extra charge as long as they stay within Wikipedia’s pages.

Sue Gardner, Executive Director,  Wikimedia Foundation said that Wikipedia is an important service, a public good, and so they want people to be able to access it for free, regardless of what device they’re using. Further, this partnership with Orange will enable millions of people to read Wikipedia, who previously couldn’t.

Marc Rennard, Group Executive Vice President of Orange, Africa, the Middle-East and Asia, commented, in countries where access to information is not always readily available, they are making it simple and easy for our customers to use the world’s most comprehensive online encyclopaedia. It is the first partnership of this kind in the world where they are enabling customers to access Wikipedia without incurring any data charges; and shows Orange’s ability, once again, to innovate in Africa and the Middle East, and bring more value to their customers.

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Nawras offers Samsung Galaxy Note with free data (Oman, South Korea)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

SamsungNawrasCommunications provider Nawras, has joined hands with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., to offer users the latest Samsung Galaxy Note. The deal priced at US$ 779 also includes 500MB of free mobile broadband internet data to be used over the first three months as well as a free Nawras Ajel postpaid SIM card.

The Samsung Galaxy Note, launched as a hybrid between the tablet computer and a mobile phone, features the world’s first and largest 5.3” HD Super AMOLED display. Further, an advanced pen-input technology, called the S Pen, combines with Galaxy Note’s full touch screen to introduce a unique customer experience.

The device features a 1.4GHz dual-core processor that ensures the performance of Galaxy Note is incredibly fast and it provides a smooth customer interface with seamless usability. Additionally, the Galaxy Note features an advanced 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 2MP front camera.

As per a company release, Nawras customers can continue to enjoy a value-packed, monthly mobile broadband plan with 500MB of data for US$ 8. Also, in the event that a consumer uses the included data before the end of the plan, an additional 150MB of data can be added to bridge the gap until the next plan starts, for US$ 2.5.

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AT&T launches new data price plans (USA)

On 01.23.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AT&TMobile network operator AT&T has launched new data price plans in an attempt to improve revenue from data services. As reported by WSJ, customers signing up for the new data service plans will be paying 33 percent more per month, as compared with the earlier plans.

The report reveals that customers will pay an additional US$ 5 per month but will also receive more data. The most economical price plan now costs US$ 20 for 300 MB data, as compared with the earlier option of US$ 15 for 200 MB data.

As per the report, data contributes significant amounts to AT&T’s overall revenue, which accounted for 39 percent of AT&T’s revenue from wireless customers through the third quarter, up from just 20 percent in 2007.

AT&T has reportedly said that this move offers customers’ greater value for the price. However, industry analysts believe this could be risky for the operator as low data usage customers may look towards rivals with cheaper internet plans.

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Airtel launches 3.75G service in Zambia (Africa)

On 01.20.12, In Mobile, By Editor

AirtelTelecom giant Bharti Airtel has launched its 3.75G service in Zambia. The new technology will offer users high speed internet access enabling them to make video calls, stream and download music as well as watch live television on their mobile handset.

According to company reports, Fayaz King, Managing Director, Airtel Zambia, has said that the 3.75G technology will give their customers the opportunity to interact with data in a different way and that this is why Airtel doesn’t see 3.75G as a product but a platform that enables the community to expand its social and commercial horizons, alongside the rest of the world.

Further, as per the company, the latest technology will offer speeds up to 21 Mbps for its users including the business and youth segment and is similar to the technology being rolled out in Europe and USA. King also said that Airtel will be rolling out its data network across all its markets in Africa with the objective of building the largest 3G network across the continent.

King added that their 3.75G platform will allow customers to combine the enormous potential of the internet with the convenience of cellular phones and other devices. It will liberate the potential of the youth through enabling fast access to the internet for learning, sharing, social networking, creating and accessing content like music. Further, for the small and medium business, it will enable the entrepreneur to embrace a highly mobile way of working with high speed access to email and internet and it will allow large companies to increase productivity through vastly enhanced mobile internet speeds and access to record and allow for communication via video calls on handsets.

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T-Mobile offers free messaging for Android users via Bobsled (USA)

On 01.13.12, In Mobile, By Editor

T-MobileMobile operator T-Mobile has expanded messaging and enhanced calling functionality for Bobsled, providing consumers with effortless communication for free across devices, countries, social networks and mobile carriers. Expanding upon the Bobsled Calling service introduced earlier this year, Bobsled Messaging is an all-in-one, cloud-based messaging application that allows consumers to send and receive individual and group messages with friends and family from any Android-powered smartphone or tablet, and almost any Web-connected, browser-enabled device.

Further, T-Mobile has also enhanced its Bobsled Calling service, enabling users to make free phone calls over their data connection from their mobile and Wi-Fi-enabled devices including Android-powered smartphones and tablets as well as iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices.

Brad Duea, Senior Vice President, T-Mobile USA has said that with Bobsled, they continue to leverage and embrace the power of IP communications to bring seamless, cost-effective connections to consumers across networks, devices, countries and carriers. He added that people can now make free voice calls from an iPad or tablet, send free one-to-one and group messages anywhere in the world, and access their phone’s contacts and text messages from their tablet or computer.

A major advantage of this service is that it allows people to send free, rich media messages including photos, videos and locations to Bobsled users anywhere in the world where they have an open data connection from any Android-powered smartphone, tablet or Web-connected device, using their existing mobile number. Bobsled Messaging also allows people to send group messages from any Android-powered smartphone to other Android-powered smartphones as well as iOS, Windows and Blackberry smartphones and even feature phones.

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Apple wins patent battle against HTC (USA, Taiwan)

On 12.23.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Apple Inc has emerged victorious in its patent lawsuit against handset manufacturer HTC, as the International Trade Commission has reportedly ruled that HTC has infringed on one patent held by the iPhone maker. As per reports, any of HTC’s phones using the technology which has been infringed will be banned from sales in the USA from 19 April, 2012.

According to reports, industry analysts believe that the ruling is not expected to have a major impact on the company’s sales as the ruling gives them enough time to come up with another feature to compensate for the infringed feature.

As per sources, HTC has said that the feature in question is a common user-interface function which enables smartphone users to access information such as contact numbers and e-mail addresses from apps and other sources, and use them by simply tapping on the text.

The victory will be well received by Apple, after losing out to Korean giant Samsung, on a similar patent infringement case in Australia last month.

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Verizon plans new price plan for multiple devices (USA)

On 12.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile operator Verizon is reportedly planning to introduce new price plans in the coming year enabling its customers to run multiple devices off one account. According to reports, Lowell McAdam, CEO, Verizon Communications has said that the carrier has been studying introducing the plans, which would allow a customer to use a pool of data or voice minutes spread across several handsets or tablets, for several years.

Further, he also said that Verizon could see usage of smartphones among its customers at 70 percent within a few years as compared with 40 percent today. McAdam said that having account-based pricing is the way to go as few consumers have four or five devices, with different plans for each. As per sources, rival operators Sprint and AT&T are also working towards introducing similar price plans.

 

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